That allowed the Blues to trial Simon White at times as another tall option up forward with promising results.

Two goals each from Matt De Boer and David Mundy in the third quarter was the only time Fremantle's Pavlich-less forward setup showed any system.

It was Betts and his speedy sidekick Garlett who instigated the early scoreboard pressure.

Garlett's first 30 seconds set the pattern - he kicked the wrong way with a hurried high ball at the opening bounce, but tracked it down and burst clear to goal on the run.

Carlton were simply harder at the footy, slicker with their use and prepared to run and keep running.

"Yes, that was pretty solid. I think we're getting better each week we have under Mick," acting captain Kade Simpson said.

"Now we're in proper games, we can really dissect the way we play. We'll go through this game again and see that our structures and stuff are right.

"There was a lot of good stuff, but I'm sure there's plenty of other stuff to work on.

"Obviously, last week was pretty slippery and it took us half a game to adapt to the conditions. But tonight we didn't muck around with the ball, just got it forward and our pressure up forward was pretty good and put them under the pump. And obviously kicking goals put scoreboard pressure on them as well."

The Blues' domination was outstanding, if surprising, from the opening bounce and they had three goals on the board before the Dockers eventually scored a behind from a long shot by a busy Danyle Pearce.

Even the normally more assured Dockers coughed up the ball or made poor decisions when confronted by Carlton's fierce tackling pressure.

Like defender Luke McPharlin, the Dockers' lone All-Australian last season, who tried to bust through a tackle and gifted a goal to Casboult in the first quarter.

And Garrick Ibbotson was like the deer caught in the headlights when Betts and Garlett set upon him, dispossessed him and the former ran away with it for another goal.

Skill errors cost Fremantle at least three goals in the second quarter and even full-back Jamison was among the goalkickers for only the second time in his career when the Blues took a well-earned breather at half-time.

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